Importers at reconditioned Japanese car exhibition demand import-friendly policy for hybrid cars

Reconditioned Japanese motor vehicles have been dazzlingly displayed at ‘BARVIDA Car Expo 2016’ with an aim to introduce environment friendly vehicles.

The three-day expo organised by Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA) kicked off at Dhaka’s International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) on Friday.

While inaugurating the show Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan assured that the government would look into the demands of the car traders for policy support for importing new generation hybrid cars and reduction of warehouse rent at Mongla Port.

The minister praised car importers for their role in making Mongla port more profitable.

“This port was running in losses until it was used for importing cars. It made profits worth almost Tk 600 million in 2014,” he said.

Bangladesh’s economy was on the rise and so was the demand for motor vehicles, he said.

“Automobiles are now a necessity, and are no longer seen as luxury commodities.”

He hoped the completion of the Metrorail project and flyovers would reduce Dhaka’s deadly gridlocks and increase the demand for cars. 

There were 40 stalls in the exposition. Companies of ancillary products like insurance, tyres, leasing, battery, lubricant, CNG conversion, car security management and car modification are also participating in the expo.

The businesses taking part in the expo have been providing information to visitors on climate-friendly technology that consumed less fuel.

State bodies like the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) are also interacting with visitors, providing them with necessary information.

BARVIDA president Md Abdul Hamid Sharif sought assistance in matters of duty and policy to make hybrid automobiles more import-friendly.    

“Hybrid automobiles consume 60% less fuel than regular cars. 37% of the automobiles manufactured in Japan are hybrids,” he said.

“Sri Lanka is allowing a 50% wavier on duty for hybrid cars. It’s time for Bangladesh to become more import-friendly towards these reconditioned hybrid vehicles.”

Businesses could sell cars at a lesser price if the rent paid for warehouses at Mongla Port was reduced, said former BARVIDA chief Habib Ullah Don.